I've been on my own on the floor for a whopping 1 year and 2 months. It really has been a sink or swim first year, and up until recently I honestly thought I was doing a fairly decent job at swimming. I haven't been counseled nor written up, I received a moderate raise at my first review a couple months ago, and my PCS often mentions how I "think outside the box" or am "a great resource for the team".
With that humblebrag out of the way, the past two weekends have seriously made me question my abilities as a nurse. I've been struggling with suddenly not having time for lunchbreaks, and just the last two shifts not only was I late getting out of work (after finally nailing down the time management to being out on time most shifts) but I had a doctor shred me to tears and a family fire me from their care.
I know my floor has had staffing issues and did just hire a bunch of new grads. I'm wondering if my new-onset inability to manage my time correctly and feeling overwhelmed with the acuity of my patients has to do with me getting heavier loads while we ease the new nurses onto the floor, or if I truly am just not trying hard enough.
I guess what I am wondering is, how do you know if your sudden suckiness is simply that you suck as a nurse, or that your floor is really screwing you over in the short-term?
Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.
Director's mentality: customer is king, they pay your bills. Nurses can be replaced by another anytime, but they forgot good nurses are irreplaceable.
Hell that's all of administration now in healthcare. I have actually been told word for word by a former director that we were to take whatever the patient dished out, that included being cussed at and the patient being aggressive. When a co-worker rightfully asked an aggressive patient to please put some space in between her and that patient, they fired her because he was a "somebody". Ugh, it's just gross. Sorry not trying to hijack OP, you sound like a fine nurse. I had a similar situation a few weeks ago where I was going above and beyond for a particular patient and his family, to the point I was almost neglecting my other patients. They still complained and I now refuse to feed into it. I have 25 patients, don't have time for that. I will do what I need to do for the patient, have a positive/respectful attitude, but I cannot spend my whole day with you which I have had to make clear.
As a Nurse with quite a few years of Nursing I can tell you I still have those days when I am overwhelmed. At times the demands of Nursing with people pulling you in all different ways can affect you emotionally especially when you are trying to do such a good job. I broke out in tears a few weeks ago after being physically exhausted, feeling sick and then having demands placed on me that were unrealistic. No lunches, coming in early and staying late. But I felt better after the cry and went about my job. Good luck to you!
I just want to say thank you to everyone who has helped me in this thread. I will be back a bit later to say more - been with my mom for most of today while she has her basal cell growth removed.
OP, just read your post - did not read any replies. Here is my initial though, day after day, when scrolling these forums and posts: It takes someone with true compassion to post their potential flaws on the internet, to a bunch of strangers on the internet.
From an experienced nurse, remember this: You're an amazing person and nurse. You wouldn't have made it through school and a year of working as a professional nurse if you weren't an amazing and caring person for starters. Also you wouldn't care about your quality as a nurse if you were a crappy nurse.
Next, I've been an ICU nurse for many years getting ready to start CRNA school and I still remember the experienced nurses telling me that getting fired by a family and ******* out by a doc was a right of passage... that I wasnt a real nurse until things went south for me.
Congratulations! You're a true nurse now. Unpleasant situations will become easier with time. Try hard to embrace each difficult situation you encounter, believe it or not but each time is an opportunity that will make you stronger. You're doing awesome!
Hey friend, one way to know you are good at what you do is to get certified in the area you work in. I got my certification in Emergency Nursing to let myself know I am qualified. Your peers should not be your measuring stick. They might suck as well and you don't want their perception to be the your truth. Be empathetic to your co-workers, including MD'S. Everyone has a bad day and deals with it in their own way. Let them know you are concerned about their behavior and ask if there is anything you can do to help them. Or sometimes you can just say I am sorry even though it may not be your fault. It doesn't matter who is right. What matters is the relationship. You will get better over time with everything. But the best way to get started is to get certified.
Unfortunately, you are now getting screwed! Your coworkers know that you can handle everything that you have had thrown at you for the past year and have upped the ante. Talk to the person that is making the assignments about equality esp if you are getting majority of the completes, psych, confused, demented, ETOH/drug withdrawal patients. Ask for help, delegate what can be to the aides, politely confront your coworkers "I know you guys think I can handle everything that you have given me for the past weeks/months, but I feel like I'm not giving the quality of care that I should be and would appreciate it very much if the wealth was spread around a little more." Said of course, with a smile on your face.
Many have said it, but I will add my agreement. We all have families that don't love us here and there, doctors that want to take **** out on us, and get out late due to the high acuity of our assignments sometimes.
hoeksemac
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you care - what a big heart. Hang tough! Cindy